Saturday, March 06, 2021

Weekly Mews: Wrapping Up February & Looking Forward to March (Please Vote in my TBR Poll! Help Me Decide What to Read Next.)

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer and The Sunday Salon (TSS) hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz  where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. I am also linking It's Monday! What Are you Reading? hosted by Kathryn of Book Date where readers talk about what they have been, are and will be reading.

As part of my monthly wrap up, I am linking up to Nicole of Feed Your Addiction's Monthly Wrap-Up Post and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Team Tynga's Reviews and Marlene of Reading Reality a meme in which participants share what new books came their way recently. 


Happy March everyone! This week was a typical week in my life for the most part. My husband and I had work. Mouse had school and dance/musical theater. The cats slept a lot. The Girl Scout Cookie sale is winding down. Just one week left. The winds have not been too bad this week, which was nice, and the weather perfect for open window days. It did rain for several hours one day. I love a good rainy day. 

What I Am Reading: I read and loved The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna earlier this week. Mouse and I recently finished the 6th of the Dork Diaries books, Tales from a Not-So-Happy Heartbreaker by Rachel Renée Russell. My daughter insisted we immediately start on the 7th in the series, Tales of a Not-So-Glam TV Star, and so we did. 

I am close to finishing M. Ravenel's upcoming release The Arrangement, a mystery set in 1975 New York. It is the first in a new series featuring P.I. Tootsie Carter. I am enjoying it quite a bit so far. 

What I Am Watching: My family and I watched the final episode of WandaVision last night. We thought the show was wrapped up very well, although we hated to see it end.  I can't wait to watch it again and catch what I might have missed.  We also recently watched the 2017 Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle movie, which was fun. I remember seeing the Robin Williams 1995 version years ago. We also watched the movie Flora and Ulyssess, which Mouse loved. 


New to the Shelves February Books:

Mouse's new books: 


Tales from a Not-So-Happy Heartbreaker (Dork Diaries #6) by Rachel Renée Russell
Tales from a Not-So-Glam TV Star (Dork Diaries #7) by Rachel Renée Russell 
Tales from a Not-So-Happily Ever After! (Dork Diaries #8) by Rachel Renée Russell


Sheets by Brenna Thummler

E-Book deals I couldn't pass up (and it helped I had a gift card needing spending): 


Tails, You Lose (Witch City Mystery #2) by Carol J. Perry
Look Both Ways (Witch City Mystery #3) by Carol J. Perry
Murder Go Around (Witch City Mystery #4) by Carol J. Perry
There's a New Witch in Town (Holiday Hills Witch #1) by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson
Witch this Way (Holiday Hills Witch #2) by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson
Daring (Pax Arcana #2) by Elliott James
Fearless (Pax Arcana #3) by Elliott James
In Shining Armor (Pax Arcana #4) by Elliott James
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Brainwaite
Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America by Melissa V. Harris-Perry
A Cat's Guide to Bonding with Dragons (Dragoncat #1) by Chris Behrsin
The Ninja Daughter (Lily Wong #1) by Tori Eldridge
Vows, Vendettas and a Little Black Dress (Sophie Katz Murder Mystery #5) by Kyra Davis


The Winter COYER Challenge hosted by Michelle and Berls of Because Reading Is Better Than Real Life lasted through January & February and I committed to reading four (4) books. I ended up reading seven (7). 

1. One by One by Ruth Ware
2. Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder (#1) by T.A. Willberg
3. Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
4. A Glimmer of Death (#1) by Valerie Wilson Wesley
5. The Russian Cage (Gunnie Rose #3) by Charlaine Harris
The Wedding Date (The Wedding Date #1) by Jasmine Guillory
7. The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins (review pending) 

March 1st kicked off the beginning of the Spring COYER Challenge, which I am also taking part in because why stop now? I am looking forward to seeing where I go on my reading adventures this season. The rules are similar to the Winter COYER rules only now, not only do e-books and audiobooks count, but also physical books. Books still have to be free or nearly free, however with the added bonus that now library and borrowed books qualify. Spring COYER lasts from March through June. More months, more reading! My goal is to read eight (8) books for Spring COYER. Care to join me? 


Here is what I finished reading in February:
January was a fluke given how much I read. February was much more in line with my usual average. It was still a great reading month. I have yet to meet a book I have not enjoyed this year. If I had to pick a favorite read of the month, I would say Michelle Obama's Becoming. It was just as good as everyone told me it would be. I hope to post my review later this month.

Blogging wise, I managed to keep up the pace I started in January. I will be taking a much needed break toward the end of March. 

This Past February In Reading Mews:

Tell me what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your February? Do you have anything planned for this month?


Thank you for helping me decide what book from my TBR collection I should read next: 

My TBR List is hosted by the awesome Michelle at Because Reading. It’s a fun way to choose a book from your TBR pile to read. The 1st Saturday of every month, I will list 3 books I am considering reading and take a poll as to which you think I should read. I will read the winner that month. My review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise). 



This month my choices have a historical focus with women at the heart of each story. It is Women's History Month after all. I am really excited about all three titles and cannot wait to see which one I will be reading this month. Thank you for voting! 


The Paper Daughters of Chinatown by Heather B. Moore
Based on true events, The Paper Daughters of Chinatown in a powerful story about a largely unknown chapter in history and the women who emerged as heroes.

In the late nineteenth century, San Francisco is a booming city with a dark side, one in which a powerful underground organization—the criminal tong—buys and sells young Chinese women into prostitution and slavery. These “paper daughters,” so called because fake documents gain them entry to America but leave them without legal identity, generally have no recourse. But the Occidental Mission Home for Girls is one bright spot of hope and help.

Told in alternating chapters, this rich narrative follows the stories of young Donaldina Cameron who works in the mission home, and Mei Lien, a “paper daughter” who thinks she is coming to America for an arranged marriage but instead is sold into a life of shame and despair.

Donaldina, a real-life pioneering advocate for social justice, bravely stands up to corrupt officials and violent gangs, helping to win freedom for thousands of Chinese women. Mei Lien endures heartbreak and betrayal in her search for hope, belonging, and love. Their stories merge in this gripping account of the courage and determination that helped shape a new course of women’s history in America. [Goodreads Summary]

Women in White Coats: How the First Women Doctors Changed the World of Medicine by Olivia Campbell
For fans of Hidden Figures and Radium Girls comes the remarkable story of three Victorian women who broke down barriers in the medical field to become the first women doctors, revolutionizing the way women receive health care.

In the early 1800s, women were dying in large numbers from treatable diseases because they avoided receiving medical care. Examinations performed by male doctors were often demeaning and even painful. In addition, women faced stigma from illness—a diagnosis could greatly limit their ability to find husbands, jobs or be received in polite society.

Motivated by personal loss and frustration over inadequate medical care, Elizabeth Blackwell, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Sophia Jex-Blake fought for a woman’s place in the male-dominated medical field. For the first time ever, Women in White Coats tells the complete history of these three pioneering women who, despite countless obstacles, earned medical degrees and paved the way for other women to do the same. Though very different in personality and circumstance, together these women built women-run hospitals and teaching colleges—creating for the first time medical care for women by women.

With gripping storytelling based on extensive research and access to archival documents, Women in White Coats tells the courageous history these women made by becoming doctors, detailing the boundaries they broke of gender and science to reshape how we receive medical care today.  [Goodreads Summary]

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
In this addictive and spectacularly imagined debut, a female apothecary secretly dispenses poisons to liberate women from the men who have wronged them—setting three lives across centuries on a dangerous collision course.

Rule #1: The poison must never be used to harm another woman.

Rule #2: The names of the murderer and her victim must be recorded in the apothecary’s register.

One cold February evening in 1791, at the back of a dark London alley in a hidden apothecary shop, Nella awaits her newest customer. Once a respected healer, Nella now uses her knowledge for a darker purpose—selling well-disguised poisons to desperate women who would kill to be free of the men in their lives. But when her new patron turns out to be a precocious twelve-year-old named Eliza Fanning, an unexpected friendship sets in motion a string of events that jeopardizes Nella’s world and threatens to expose the many women whose names are written in her register.

In present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, reeling from the discovery of her husband’s infidelity. When she finds an old apothecary vial near the river Thames, she can’t resist investigating, only to realize she’s found a link to the unsolved “apothecary murders” that haunted London over two centuries ago. As she deepens her search, Caroline’s life collides with Nella’s and Eliza’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive.

With crackling suspense, unforgettable characters and searing insight, The Lost Apothecary is a subversive and intoxicating exploration of women rebelling against a man’s world, the destructive force of revenge and the remarkable ways that women can save each other despite the barrier of time.

Thank you for voting! I hope you all have a wonderful week! Happy Reading!


© 2021, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

73 comments:

  1. I really enjoyed WandaVision but the ending broke my heart! I was actually crying, lol. Looks like the next Dr strange will be fascinating though with that cut scene!

    I hope you have another good/normal week. Schools go back here next week so I'm hopeful that mine may be the first semi-normal week I've had since December! :)

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    1. Nicci - It broke my heart too and I cried too. I'm looking forward to the Dr. Strange movie too!

      I hope everything goes well with the schools next week. We're still virtual here, but some kids will be staring back one day a week next week and then virtual the other days. I hope you have a great week too. Thank you for visiting!

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  2. The Lost Apothecary sounds fantastic, I voted on that one, My husband and I plan to watch Wandavision this week so it's been touch to try and avoid spoilers.

    I hope you have a great week, Wendy! Happy Reading! xx

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    1. Michelle - Thank you for voting! I think The Last Apothecary sounds good too. It should be a fun read. :-) I hope you enjoy WandaVision! I know what you mean about spoilers . . . They are everywhere. :-( Have a great week too and thank you for stopping by!

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  3. A normal week is a good week really. I love, love love those Elliot James books. I hope you have a good week with nice weather.

    Anne - Books of My Heart This is my Sunday Post

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    1. Anne - Yes, a normal week is a very good week. My favorite kind, in fact. :-) I am glad to hear you like the Elliot James books! I read the first in the series and really enjoyed it. I've had these on my wish list forever and decided it was time to move them to my TBR.

      Thank you for visiting!

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  4. I haven't watched WandaVision yet but I want to give it a try. I haven't heard anything but glowing reviews. I loved the Jumanji movie and I really didn't expect to because remakes can get a bit dicey. I thought they did such a great job with it. Have a great week!

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    1. Katherine - The Jumanji movie was a lot of fun. I had dismissed it when it first came out, but I kept hearing about how good it was. We hope to watch the second one this weekend. I hope you have a great week too. Thank you for stopping by!

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  5. "The cats slept a lot." lol. right? Same here! And ooh M. Ravenel's sounds good. Looking forward to your thoughts. I love open window days too. so refreshing to get some fresh air finally!

    I voted for the Lost Apothecary because I think it sounds awesome, but it was close- Paper Daughters sounds like a powerful read.

    Have a great week!

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    1. Greg - The cats do have quite the leisurely life. :-) I finished The Arrangement this weekend and enjoyed it quite a bit.

      Thank you for voting and visiting!

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  6. Yes, we loved WandaVision too and I was sad to see it end too.I can't wait to see the next Marvel movie/series.

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    1. Gayathri - I can't wait to see the next Marvel series either. It looks like it will be good. Thank you for stopping by!

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  7. Oh my goodness! I htink that we have three episodes of Wandavision to watch. We have been distracted by other things over the last few weeks. Need to rectify that asap!

    have a great week!

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    1. Marg - I hope you enjoy the WandaVision finale. It's sad but good. Thank you for visiting!

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  8. We watched the last episode of WandaVision too, it was a heartbreaker but so many questions unanswered!
    I voted for Woman in White Coats because I want to read it :)

    Wishing you a great reading week

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    1. Shelleyrae - Yes, very heartbreaking. I'm looking forward to what the next series has to offer. Thank you for voting and stopping by!

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  9. It looks like February was a good month for you and your family, Wendy. Lots of books read and great to hear you have enjoyed them all! My February went by in a bit of grey blur to be honest, however I did finish four books which is good for me. Take care and happy reading in March. 🙂

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    1. Jessica - Thank you! I hope you have a good March too.

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  10. The Women in White Coats sounds very interesting (and it's always good to hear more about the ways women made their mark!)

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    1. Eustacia - Yes, I am looking forward to reading it. Thank you for stopping by!

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  11. We went out and bought Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle as the grandchildren thought it was hilarious and I always love hearing them laugh. I thought it better than the Robin Williams' film, though I always enjoyed his performances. I hope your coming week is a good one, especially for those snoozing cats:))

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    1. Sarah - It was a fun movie. We were hoping to see the second movie this past weekend, but it wasn't meant to be. Hopefully next weekend. Thank you for visiting!

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  12. For many years, we had wooden windows that would not open, but last year we got new windows. Thanks for the reminder that I can actually enjoy open window days now.

    I've found so many great ebooks through deals. I wish there was a way to alert me when books on my wish list went on sale.

    I loved Becoming, too. Michelle Obama's story is inspiring amid our national mood of divisiveness.

    I voted for the book about the women doctors because of Women's History Month, but The Lost Apothecary looks great, too.

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    1. Deb - I love the feel of the fresh air coming into the house. If only it didn't bring in more dust and allergens too. It's worth it though. :-)

      Thank you for voting and stopping by!

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  13. Still snow on the ground here, but getting warmer this week so spring is coming...

    My wife and I really liked the new Jumanji movies. Great fun!

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    1. Bryan - My daughter would love it if it snowed here. I am glad to hear warmer temperatures are on their way in your part of the country. Thank you for visiting!

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  14. I want to give WandaVision a second chance. I only watched the first episode and wasn't into it but everyone seems to enjoy it. I voted for The Lost Apothecary because it's the one I chose for my BOTM lol Happy reading!

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    1. Molly - I know a lot of people who had mixed feelings about the first episode, but it really does get better. I hope you will give it a second chance! Thank you for voting and stopping by!

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  15. Your books look good, and I am curious about WandaVision. I loved Becoming...and hope to read A Promised Land soon.

    Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog.

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    1. Laurel-Rain - I hope you enjoy A Promised Land. I have heard good things about it. Thank you for visiting!

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  16. I voted! :-) I hope you enjoy My Sister the Serial Killer as much as I did. Happy March!

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    1. Freda - I hope I will too! Thank you for stopping by and voting!

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  17. I slept a little more this week. I vote Lost Apothecary cuz i love potions and fun things like Witches.

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    1. Trin - I am glad you were able to get more sleep. Thank you for voting! I love all things witches too. :-)

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  18. All your TBR books sound great--especially to read this month. Hope you enjoy whatever we pick for you! You've been blogging and reading up a storm which is great! I hope March is as good for you and that you enjoy the things you read.

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    1. Jan - Thank you! I am looking forward to seeing which one wins! Thank you too for visiting!

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  19. Sheets is such a cute book. I got My Sister, The Serial Killer last month too. I haven’t read it yet. I hope you have a great March!

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. AJ - Thanks. I will probably read Sheets too. It sounds cute. Thank you for visiting!

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  20. Oh, Paper Daughters looks excellent and I can't wait to see what you think of it. I'll add it to my TBR list right now.

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    1. Helen - I am really looking forward to reading Paper Daughters. Thank you for stopping by!

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  21. Oh! I didn't know that there were girl scout cookies on sale now! I really need to buy some girl scout cookies for myself! Hope you have a great week!

    Here’s my Sunday Post!

    Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog

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    1. Ronyell - I hope you are able to find some Girl Scout Cookies. I hope you have a great week too. Thank you for visiting!

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  22. Hope you're having a good weekend! The three Elliot James books you got are three of my favs. I hope you like them. And I had to vote for Paper Daughters; it sounds amazing. :)

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    1. Lark - I am glad to hear you like the James' series too! I am looking forward to continuing the series. Thank you for voting and stopping by!

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  23. I haven't seen Wandavision yet. I want to though.

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    1. Mary - I hope you will like WandaVision when you watch it. Thank you for visiting!

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  24. The new Jumanji films are both excellent, I enjoyed the original but these are even better and funny too!

    Have a great week!

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    1. Heather - We really enjoyed the first new Jumanji film. Hopefully we can watch the second one soon. Thank you for stopping by!

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  25. My almost 9-year old granddaughter is into the Dork Diaries and the Babysitter Club right now. I voted for The Last Apothecary as I want to read that one as well LOL Hope you have a good week Wendy.

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    1. Diane - The Dork Diaries is such a fun series. I am glad your granddaughter is enjoying them. Thank you for visiting and voting!

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  26. So many people talk about WandaVision that I think I'll have to watch it, even though we don't know much about Marvel around here.

    I will confess that I voted in your poll based solely on the pretty cover. LOL!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. Nicole - If you do watch WandaVision, I hope you like it. It's quite different. It helps to know some of the backstory of the Scarlet Witch, but I think that the show goes over some of that well. You just have to be patient. Thank you for voting! Sometimes I vote in other people's polls based on cover too. :-) Thank you too for stopping by!

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  27. My daughter loved the Dork Diaries when she was in elementary school. So fun! Have a wonderful week. :-)

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    1. Diana - It is a fun series. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  28. I like the covers for the Elliott James books. Have a great week!

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    1. Jamie - I've read the first book in the series and really liked it. I hope you have a great week too. Thank you for stopping by!

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  29. Rita - I think The Paper Daughters will be one I really like too. Thank you for voting and stopping by! I hope you have a good week too.

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  30. You picked up some great books for your kindle! I really enjoyed Sister Citizen and My Sister the Serial Killer was interesting too.

    WandaVision was so good. I wish they'd do another season but I doubt it. But it does make me excited to see the next Dr. Strange movie! And I hope for more Agnes in the future too.

    I've been wanting to watch Flora and Ulysses with my kiddo too. Glad Mouse really enjoyed it.

    I hope you enjoy your week!

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    1. Heather - Sister Citizen came highly recommended and so I am glad to hear you liked it.

      I wouldn't mind another season of WandaVision either, but as you said, it doesn't seem likely. Agnes was a great character. I hope we see more of her too.

      Thank you for visiting!

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  31. I think I need to get onto the same schedule as your cats! I feel like I'm always tired. Sheets looks cute! Hope you have a lovely week! :)

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    1. Rachel - Right? I would love to be on my cats' schedule. I need more sleep too. Thank you for stopping by!

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  32. I loved "My Sister, The Serial Killer" so I hope you'll enjoy this book as well. And I voted for The Last Apothecary. ;)

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    1. Melody - I hope I love it too! Thank you for voting and visiting!

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  33. I haven't started watching WandaVision yet - I may get to it after I'm through with the Star Trek shows. Glad to hear that you loved it.

    Gilded Ones is high on my wishlist too, hopefully I'll make room for it soon. You've sent me on a memory trip by talking about Jumanji - I remember watching and loving that original version. And also how many times I watched that movie!

    Have a great week, Wendy!

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    1. Athira - I hope you enjoy WandaVision when you watch it.

      I can definitely recommend The Gilded Ones. I hope you like it when you read it.

      I remember watching the original Jumanji movie too. I really enjoyed it at the time. I haven't seen it in years. I told my husband maybe we should since we are watching the newer ones.

      Thank you for stopping by!

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  34. I have The Arrangement on my wishlist. It looks good. I'm not familiar with any of the books on your poll so I can't vote but I hope you enjoy whatever you decide to read :) Have a great week!

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    1. Yvonne - I hope you give The Arrangement a try. I really enjoyed it! You can always do what I do when I don't know any of the votes and can't make up my mind--I vote by cover. ;-) Thank you for visiting!

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  35. I'm really looking forward to seeing what book wins the poll--all three are great choices!

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    1. Victoria - I can't wait to see which one wins either. I'm trying not to peek. LOL Thank you for stopping by!

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  36. "Weekly Mews" is cute! I also have Sheets on my TBR list. I hope it is a good read.

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  37. We just checked out some Dork Diaries from the library. That's really cool you are reading the series with your daughter. We bought our cookies last week at a very hectic mass sale at the school parking lot. Girls running around everywhere, some without masks on and we bought and ran.

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    1. Danielle - I hope you enjoy the Dork Diaries books. We weren't allowed to have any mass sales like that, fortunately. Thank you for visiting!

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